Metcalf Energy Center
	A joint development of Calpine/Bechtel

SIERRA CLUB CHAPTER ENDORSES METCALF METCALF ENERGY CENTER

SAN JOSE -- The Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed the construction of the Metcalf Energy Center (MEC) based on the advanced technology that will be used, the number of environmental advantages it offers, and the region's need for more power generation.

While the Sierra Club's highest energy priorities remain energy conservation, better energy efficiency, and a shift to environmentally sound renewables, the chapter also acknowledges the need for interim less-polluting fossil fuel energy plants like the Metcalf Energy Center. New natural gas, combined cycled power plants such as MEC are an enormous improvement over older plants and emergency diesel generators now running in terms of increased energy efficiency, reduction of certain types of air pollutants and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The chapter also based its decision on the proposed location being next to the existing Metcalf Substation and existing transmission towers so no new transmission towers will be required. The location also benefits from being relatively close to where the power will be consumed. The decision to endorse MEC takes into account the growing demand for electricity in Silicon Valley and that the San Jose region is considered to be particularly vulnerable to electricity outages within the PG&E service area.

In addition to a relatively positive impact on regional air quality, the environmental benefits of the MEC include permanent protection of 131 acres as open space, enhancement of local, sensitive biological habitats, improvement of salt marsh habitat by use of recycled treated water for plant cooling and contributions to local tree planting efforts. The Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club conditioned their support of the development of the Metcalf Energy Center, subject to approval by relevant local, regional, state and federal environmental regulatory agencies.

Dan Kalb, director of the Sierra Club's Loma Prieta Chapter, says, "New natural gas, combined cycled power plants such as the Metcalf Energy Center are an enormous improvement over older plants and emergency diesel generators now running in terms of increased energy efficiency, reduction of certain air pollutants and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."

Kurt Newick, Chairman of the Global Warming Committee states, "MEC will create electricity efficiently and the energy used in Silicon Valley will have very low transmission losses. This will reduce CO2 emissions by displacing inefficient coal plants still in operation, which move power hundreds of miles, resulting in up to 20% transmission losses. MEC uses natural gas, a low carbon fuel, which is twice as efficient at reducing CO2 as coal. MEC is 40% more efficient than existing facilities that do not use combined cycle technology. In addition, nitrous oxide, a global warming gas, is highly controlled by MEC, thus reducing tropospheric ozone, which in turn, slows global warming."

Other environmental benefits include improvements to the adjacent creek and hillside habitats and to marshland habitat by using recycled wastewater for cooling that would otherwise flow into the Bay.